It was about halfway through the season, after a blistering hot day at work. I felt exhausted, drained, and unprepared for the worship service that evening. Once the time for service came, I grudgingly pulled out my portable keyboard and headed towards the dock to set up. At the start, no-one was there, and I had to hold back the desire to turn in for the night.

My teammate and I began to worship together, and while we were singing the song “Beautiful Things,” I felt a wave of peace wash over me.

It reminded me that life consists of many moments of death and resurrections, and that I am loved by a God who is consistently making all things new. God’s grace is restorative, ebullient, life-giving, and unending. The moment of worship rejuvenated my spirit and opened my eyes to the wonders of God’s creation that surrounded me: the setting sun that peaked out behind the mountains, its shimmering reflection on the lake, the whispers of the breeze that enveloped me like a light blanket. I am thankful to ACMNP for allowing me the chance to worship and experience God’s grace in the midst of God’s ecological masterpiece.

Elsa K., North Cascades National Park, 2015